Stand Firm on Your Child’s Oral Hygiene

Stand Firm on Your Child’s Oral Hygiene

If you are a parent, you may be all too familiar with the tears, tantrums and general difficulties of getting your children to regularly brush his or her teeth. As nerve-racking as it is for you, it is important that you stand firm on the daily routine. The foundation for healthy permanent teeth in children starts in the first years of life. As a parent you are responsible for building this foundation and helping your children understand the importance of oral hygiene.

The benefits of brushing teeth are fairly obvious. Perhaps the strongest component of good oral hygiene, toothbrushing protects the enamel by reducing the amount of bacteria and acid in the mouth. A healthy mouth prevents the development of oral problems and the subsequent need for expensive dental visits.

For these reasons, parents regularly need to reinforce oral hygiene techniques as positive behaviors. The amount of effort it takes to do so pales in comparison to the effort needed to get your child to and from the dentist. As a parent, you are the most influential role model in your child’s life, and most children want to be like their mom or dad. Thus, if your child sees you attending to your own oral hygiene, he or she will get the idea that it is a good thing to do regularly.

Here are three simple recommendations:

• Set the daily routine and be actively involved in it with your children.
• Start this routine as early as possible. The sooner your children begin to embrace the daily routine, the less friction will ensue later on.
• Explain to your children why oral hygiene is important. Direction without explanation tends to confuse young children.

Above all, remember: They are children. Yelling, threatening or punishing them rarely works. Sometimes the best way to get them to want to do something is to make a game of it. Making oral health maintenance a fun experience will reinforce the behavior you wish to encourage. When children associate fun or laughter with the act of brushing their teeth, they will be the ones asking for “toothbrush time”!

We’d love to meet you and your family! Give us a call at 509-891-7070 to schedule today.

Special Patients, Special Care: Dentistry and Your Special Needs Child

Special Patients, Special Care: Dentistry and Your Special Needs Child

While going to the dentist can be daunting for anyone, children with developmental disabilities may find it particularly challenging. The sounds, smells and sights of a dental office can be frightening when children have sensory issues or trouble understanding the world around them. Luckily, we are specially trained to treat young patients who might need a bit of extra attention and special care.

Since people with disabilities can be at higher risk for oral health problems, it’s especially important that parents and our office work together to establish a level of comfort and routine when it comes to dental care. Consider the following tips that can help lead to happy, healthy dental visits for children with special needs:

1. Let us know in advance exactly what your child’s needs are, so that we can better prepare for his or her visit. Make a date to come by our office prior to the appointment. We can introduce ourselves to you and your child and give you a “tour” of all the rooms and the dental equipment.

2. A few weeks before your appointment, start reading stories or watching television programs about visiting the dentist. If possible, talk about what will happen in easy-to-understand terms.

3. If your child is sensitive to noise, bring noise-cancelling headphones and music he or she can listen to during the examination. A stuffed animal, blanket or other comforting object can also help children feel more secure.

4. We might recommend sedation in certain circumstances, sometimes even for simple cleanings and examinations. Consider whether your child can sit still for the examination or if being asleep might make things easier for him or her.

5. Keep up with routine visits. Familiar faces can minimize some of the anxiety your child―and you―might feel about dental appointments.

Dental examinations are only part of the battle. You need to help your child care for his or her teeth between visits. Ask us for suggestions on improving oral health at home―then rest assured that you’re doing all you can to serve the dental needs of your child.

Click here to schedule an appointment with Dr. Jared. Or give us a call at (509)-891-7070.

Sore Mouth Can Distress a Person

Sore Mouth Can Distress a Person

A sore or inflamed mouth can occur for many reasons, including canker or cold sores, mild burns, wearing braces, or irritation from biting the tongue or teeth; but no matter what causes mouth soreness and inflammation (also called stomatitis), the effects are the same: Discomfort that can affect your child’s ability to eat, speak and even sleep.

Canker Sores

Pale, often yellowish, sores that usually have an outer red ring, these sores occur most commonly on the cheeks, tongue or inside of the lip and may occur in clusters. Most sores last five to 10 days and are not associated with fever.

Although the cause of these sores is unknown, several factors may be related to their development, including stress, bacteria or viruses. They may also be triggered by a cold or flu, by certain foods such as chocolate or citrus fruits, by biting the inside of the cheek, or by chewing sharp or abrasive foods. Canker sores aren’t contagious, and they occur in about one-fifth of the U.S. population.

Cold Sores

Also commonly called fever blisters, these fluid-filled sores usually occur around the lips. In many cases, the area where the sore appears may tingle, burn or feel tender before the sore appears and form a crusty scab in their later stages. These sores are usually associated with a cold or flu and typically disappear within 10 days. There is no cure for cold sores, but applying ice may help reduce discomfort, and your child’s pediatrician might prescribe an antiviral medication to reduce symptoms.

Caused by the herpes simplex virus type 1, cold sores are contagious. Infection with the virus sometimes occurs during childhood or adolescence, and the virus remains in the body, becoming reactivated by stress, fever, hormonal changes or trauma.

Mouth Irritation

Many factors can cause irritation, including wearing braces or retainers, burns from hot foods or drinks, broken teeth or hypersensitivity to specific foods or medications.

Treatment

Most mouth sores resolve within two weeks; sores that persist beyond that time should be evaluated by a doctor. In the meantime, to minimize your child’s discomfort

*have them avoid hot, spicy, salty and citrus-based foods while the sore is active

*rinse with salt water, for canker sores

*use over-the-counter children’s pain medications and ice

Call us to schedule an appointment today at KiDDS Dental!  509-891-7070. We’d love to meet you and your family!